Variety of rudbeckia plant named &#39;BullRudi 03&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  rudbeckia  plant having a compact growth habit with numerous long-lasting and large blooms.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/386,453, filed Dec. 2, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Botanical classification: Rudbeckia hirta L.

Varietal denomination: ‘BullRudi 03’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of rudbeckia plant known by the varietal name ‘BullRudi 03’. The new variety was discovered in October of 2013 in Gönnebeck, Germany as the result of a planned breeding program with the purposes of providing rudbeckia plants with improved growth, foliage, and blooms, including developing new color combinations of rudbeckia blooms. The new variety is the result of cross between an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having an internal breeder's reference of “Bull M 2011-01” (female parent) and an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having an internal breeder's reference of “Bull M 2011-02” (male parent) from the breeder's own collection. The new variety is similar to its parental varieties in botanical classification, but exhibits a more compact growth habit, cleaner foliage, and longer lasting and larger blooms than both of its parental varieties. When ‘BullRudi 03’ is compared to Rudbeckia hirta L. variety named ‘Prärie Sun’ (unpatented), ‘BullRudi 03’ is similar to ‘Prärie Sun’ in botanical classification, but ‘BullRudi 03’ exhibits improved plant quality, plant strength, growth, foliage, and larger blooms that differ in color from those of ‘Prärie Sun’. Further, the following characteristics distinguish ‘BullRudi 03’ when generally compared to other rudbeckia varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   Good self-branching;     -   An upright and compact growth habit;     -   Healthy, clean, and medium-sized foliage;     -   Long-lasting and large blooms; and     -   Differing bloom color.         ‘BullRudi 03’ has been trial and field tested and has been found         to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to         type through successive propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at 18 weeks of age, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows an entire plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a bloom of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety as the result of asexual reproductions performed via in vitro tissue culture in October of 2013 carried out in Gönnebeck, Germany. Plants of the new variety were grown outdoors in 21 cm (4 liter) pots, and the color readings and measurements were observed under natural light on 18 week old plants in Gönnebeck, Germany. Color references are primarily to The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

-   Plant:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7-10 days at approximately 18°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 38-45 days at approximately             16-18° C.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted             cutting.—About 12-14 weeks in a 21 cm container.         -   Rooting habit.—Exhibits numerous roots of medium thickness             that are freely branching and healthy in color.         -   Plant height.—About 55-65 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 30-40 cm.         -   Vigor.—Medium, with a compact growth habit.         -   Diseasepest resistance.—Nothing unusual noted to date.         -   Temperature tolerance.—From −5 to +40° C.         -   Drought tolerance.—Average.         -   Branching habit.—Exhibits one dominant strong branch with             the biggest bloom and a few lateral side branches. All             branches are upright, forming a nice round habit.         -   Branches (flowering stems).—Number per plant: 8-15. Length:             5-20 cm. Diameter: 6-10 mm. Internode length: 2-12 cm.             Angle: Upright. Strength: Strong Texture: Stable, with             pubescence present. Color: Approximately Green Group RHS             137C.         -   Foliage.—Arrangement: Alternate and simple. Leaf: Length:             9-22 cm. Width: 2-9 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Attenuate to acute. Margin: Dentate and             undulate. Texture: Upper surface: Rough, with pubescence             present. Lower surface: Rough, with pubescence present.             Color: Young leaves: Upper surface: Approximately Green             Group RHS 137C. Lower surface: Approximately Green Group RHS             137D. Mature leaves: Upper surface: Approximately Green             Group RHS 137C. Lower surface: Approximately Green Group RHS             137D. Petiole: None present. Veins: Venation type: Pinnate.             Color: Upper surface: Approximately Yellow-Green Group RHS             145C. Lower surface: Approximately Yellow-Green Group RHS             145B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular-shaped             disc florets. Diameter: At least 3-5 cm. Length: At least             3 cm. Color: Approximately Yellow-Green Group RHS 151A.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering occurs from the end of             June to the middle of October in Germany, beginning             approximately 10-12 weeks after planting.         -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—Numerous, 20-50.         -   Average number of inflorescences per branch.—From 1-8.         -   Disc and ray floret arrangement.—Disc florets are arranged             in the middle of the receptacle of the inflorescence with             ray florets extending outwardly therefrom.         -   Fragrance.—Stabile.         -   Inflorescence.—Diameter: 10-18 cm. Height (depth): 2-3 cm.             Diameter of disc: 2.5-3.5 cm. Receptacle height: 1-1.5 cm.             Receptacle diameter: 4-9 cm.         -   Ray florets.—Number per inflorescence: 13-22. Arrangement:             In one or two whorls. Length: 4-8 cm. Width: 2-3.5 cm.             Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Acute. Margin             Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth and glabrous. Lower             surface: Rough. Color: When opening: Upper surface:             Approximately Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A. Lower surface:             Approximately Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15B, with a light             shimmer of green. At maturity: Upper surface: Approximately             Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A. Lower surface: Approximately             Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15B. Ground color description:             Approximately Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A. Venation:             Appearance: Parallel. Color: Upper surface: Same color as             the florets. Lower surface: Same color as the florets.         -   Disc florets.—Number per inflorescence: Numerous; too many             to quantify. Arrangement: In the center of receptacle.             Length: About 5-10 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular.             Apex: Five-pointed. Color: Immature: Approximately Green             Group RHS 138C. At maturity: Approximately Greyed-Orange             Group RHS 163B.         -   Phyllaries.—Number per inflorescence: 20-35. Arrangement: In             about three whorls. Length: 1-6 cm. Width: 3-15 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Elongated oval. Base: Fused. Margin:             Undulate. Texture: Upper surface: Rough, with pubescence             present. Lower surface: Rough, with pubescence present.             Color: Immature: Upper surface: Approximately Green Group             RHS 138A. Lower surface: Approximately Green Group RHS 138B.             At maturity: Upper surface: Approximately Green Group RHS             138A. Lower surface: Approximately Green Group RHS 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—         -   Androecium.—Presence: On ray and disc florets. Number (per             floret): Numerous. Filament length: 1-2 mm. Filament color:             Approximately Greyed-Orange Group RHS 163B. Anther: Shape:             Round. Length: 1 mm. Color: Light green. Pollen: Color:             Yellow. Amount: Plentiful; too much to quantify.         -   Gynoecium.—Presence: In ray and disc florets. Pistil length:             About 2 mm. Stigma: Shape: Two-parted. Color: Light green.             Style: Length: 1-2 mm: Color: Light green.         -   Seeds.—         -   Shape.—Oval.         -   Overall size.—Approximately 2 mm.         -   Color.—Approximately Black Group RHS 202A. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rudbeckia plant named ‘BullRudi 03’, as is herein illustrated and described. 